
Golf bags can cost hundreds of dollars. They can also be used for many years. If something will cost you a good chunk of change and you’ll be using it for a long time, you probably want to pick the right one.
We’ve looked at a lot of bags over the years, some being a lot better than others. You can have two bags that are the same size but they can be very different. Things like design, layout, features, and type of bag are things you need to consider. Here is everything you should look at when buying a golf bag.
In This Guide
Types Of Golf Bags | How To Pick The Right Golf Bag | Our Favorite Golf Bags
The Types Of Golf Bags
The type of bag you’ll want to get will depend on what you’ll be using it for. Some people walk the course and carry their bag. Some people use a cart 100% of the time. Some people do a little bit of both.
There are 4 main types of bags and they’re all designed for different golfers. Here are the different types and who they’re made for.
Cart Bag

As the name says, this bag is designed to be used on a cart, whether power or push. If you cart 100% of the time, this will probably be the best option.
These bags are usually the biggest and offer the most storage. Since that’s the case, you would never want to carry this bag for 18 holes. Not just because of the weight, but also because of the single carry strap.
These bags won’t have any stand legs and come with a flat base. This makes them sit flat on a push or power cart.
Hybrid Bag

This is the type of bag you should get if you sometimes carry your bag and sometimes use a cart. They look like a standard carry bag, but they have a flat base for when used on a cart (and sometimes a pass-through cart strap).
These bags are usually smaller than a cart bag but will still be able to hold all of your clubs and gear. This is what I use the majority of the time. I cart 80% of the time and carry my bag the other 20%.
Stand Bag

If you always walk the course and carry your bag, this will be the type to get. The design is very similar to a hybrid bag, but it’ll usually be a little smaller and lighter.
Since you’ll be carrying your bag, you probably won’t be bringing a bunch of gear with you. That means you won’t need too much storage and the most important factor is the weight.
Stand bags come in a few different sizes depending on how many clubs you use. A full sized bag will hold 14 clubs but you can also find bags that’ll hold 8 or 10 clubs.
One thing to note is that you can still use a stand bag on a cart. It helps a lot if the base is flat, but even if it’s not, you can still strap it down. The main thing to look for is a strap that keeps the legs folded.
Sunday Bag

This is the smallest bag and is a good choice if you carry fewer than 6 clubs. It could be for the driving range, if you’re a new golfer, or you play par 3 courses and don’t need all of your clubs.
This bag won’t be for everyone but it can come in handy in certain situations. I keep all my driving range gear in mine and throw in whatever clubs I want to practice with. I also play par 3 courses often and only ever need my wedges and putter.
How To Pick The Right Golf Bag
Not only do you have to figure out what type of bag to use, you also need to consider a few other factors. Things like bag material, amount of storage, and what divider system is used are some examples. Let’s dive into what you need to know.
Number Of Clubs
You need to ask yourself how many clubs you’ll be carrying in your bag. If you carry fewer than 10 clubs, do you really need a full sized bag?
Most people play with 14 clubs. If this is the case, you’ll need a full sized cart or stand bag. You could squeeze them in a smaller bag, but it’ll be a hassle getting them in and out of your bag (and it’ll eventually break the inside).
For a long time, I played with 9 clubs (every 2nd club). I don’t think the average player needs a full set to put up some decent scores. If you don’t have (or won’t ever have) more than 10 clubs, you might want to go with a smaller and lighter mid sized bag.
Weight And Material
Bags typically come in two different materials, nylon and synthetic leather. Generally, the synthetic leather bags are higher end and will cost a lot more.
If you’re worried about comfort and weight, something made from nylon will probably be the choice. If you want something that’s easy to clean, synthetic leather is great.
Synthetic leather also looks better (in my opinion) and is what I’d go with. If you take care of it, it’ll last you for a long time.
Dividers
For full sized bags, you normally have the option of a 5, 6, or 14 way divider system. These are the pockets where your clubs go.
With a 5 or 6 way divider, you’ll have a few clubs in each pocket. The bad news is that you’ll get more club tangle. The good news is that you get less club clatter. I think they’re also easy to organize your clubs.
With a 14 way divider, each club will be in its own pocket. The good news is that you’ll get minimal club tangle. That said, I found that the clubs swing around more and bang into each other. It’s more of an issue on stand bags.
Storage
Some golfers are minimal and only bring the essentials. Others have to bring every possible thing, just in case. Bags can be the same size but have way less storage room because of how they’re designed.
If you’re going to be traveling and need to store your shoes in the bag, you need to make sure there’s a big compartment. The same goes for if you bring a jacket or change of clothes to the course.
Maybe you’ll never need a big compartment and would rather have a magnetic pocket to hold your rangefinder. Some bags have this feature but a lot don’t.
Strap
Pretty much all cart bags come with a single strap. The same goes for small sunday bags. Most stand bags come with a double strap, but some don’t.
With a light sunday bag or if you’re using a cart, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re going to be carrying a full sized bag, having a double strap is essential. This just means the strap goes on both shoulders.
Some hybrid bags actually come with two different straps so you’ll have a choice. Carrying the bag? Use the double strap. Carting tomorrow? Change to the single strap.
Playing Conditions
Do you play in an area that gets a lot of rain? How about an area that’s super hot? These two things can have an impact on what type of bag is best to get.
For example, if you golf in the rain, having a waterproof or water resistant bag is important. Some bags have a waterproof pocket while others are entirely resistant to water.
Also, if you play where it’s hot, you’ll probably bring drinks. Having a bag that has a sealed and insulated drink pocket is something to consider. Certain bags are a lot better than others.
Our Favorite Golf Bags

We’ve looked at a lot of different golf bags and there are some solid choices out there. Rather than listing a few examples here, we have an article that we keep updated that lists our favorites (and how you can get a discount). You can read that article HERE.
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